Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Mindanao infra projects to require P29 billion: Dureza
By Bong S. Sarmiento
THE government will need P29 billion to realize its ambitious super region concept in Mindanao for the next three years, according to Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza.
Dureza said these infrastructure development projects would "propel the competitiveness of the island battered by decades-old secessionist problems."
"The super region strategy will play a key role in ensuring that despite the pervading issues and challenges, efforts to address Mindanao's development imperatives are accelerated," the presidential adviser said.
Among the priority projects lined up for Mindanao are the construction or rehabilitation of airports in Butuan, Laguindingan, Ozamiz, Dipolog, Zamboanga, Pagadian and Cotabato.
The P29.1 billion three-year budget also includes the construction of the Dinagat Island Road Network, Surigao-Davao Coastal Road, Malaig Irrigation Project, Davao Food Exchange Complex and the Sibuco-Sirawai-Siocon Baliguian Road.
With these projects, Dureza said "Mindanao will emerge as a gateway rather than as a backdoor in terms of progress and development."
He urged the private sector to support the initiative laid out by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her last State of the Nation Address.
Arroyo unveiled her super region concept on July 24 after noting the importance of grouping selected regions and provinces by their economic strengths to stimulate economic growth and development.
Although the second largest island in the country and home to 18.1 million people, most Mindanao provinces are listed among the poorest areas in the country.
Dureza said Mindanao accounts for over 40% of the food requirement of the country and contributes more than 30 percent to the national food trade.
"Mindanao's evenly distributed tropical climate makes it ideal for year round crop production," he said.
Earlier, Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez said the national government should appropriate a budget to Mindanao equal to that of Luzon.
"There have been unequal distributions of resources for infrastructure development. Luzon has been highly favored in terms of budget allocation in the past years," he said.
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